Elaine Thomas sipped her tea with practiced elegance, her diamond ring catching the soft light of the restaurant’s skylight as she set her cup down. Across from her, Mark cut into his steak with the meticulousness of a man who needed control over something—anything.
“You’re quieter than usual,” she said, lifting one brow as she dabbed the corners of her lips with her napkin. “Everything alright at the firm?”
Mark glanced up, offered a faint smile. “Yeah. Just a lot going on. Budget reviews, board schedules. You know how it gets.”
Elaine nodded, feigning sympathy. “And at home?”
He hesitated.
Just long enough.
Her smile remained pleasant, but her eyes sharpened. “Jessica seemed… tense the last time I saw her. I couldn’t help but notice.”
Mark shifted slightly in his seat. “She’s been
